In 1936, original architects Shampan & Shampan returned to the Williamsburg Playhouse to design and oversee a $15,000 renovation, reported in the September 12 issue of The Film Daily. The building was extended to increase seating capacity, the auditorium was reseated, new carpets and drapes were installed, the toilets and lounge were updated, as were lighting and mechanical equipment, and the interior was given modern decorative finishes.

ahodara you mentioned Joes luncheonette, was that joes, on lee and hooper? I remember him and his wife, very kind people, my dad would take me there to have a large milkshake at the time for 50cents in the early 70s, got my baseball cards there too heh. God rest his soul. If it was email me at I added a new theater pic, the original artwork from 1914/facade is set for demolition, trying to get it saved for historical purposes. One can only hope.

Jayar, it was great to hear the good news about the new movie theater in Williamsburg. (The vacant lot that was once the Commodore is just so depressing.) So I guess that the community that was able to open a bowling alley will now bring back the movies!

The 1947 picture is really terrific and also, at first sight, appears to be even older than it is.

J.F. Lundy in your last post you stated WasBurg was the currect name. But it’s Wms Burg. The short version of William is Wm, so Wms Burg is Williamsburg. Since I use the short version sometime for my name William.

Comparing this photo with 1973 photo posted by Harvey shows that correct name on 1947 marquee to be WasBurg Playhouse W.McBurney as I wrongly projected it to be. That is a photo of the Williamsburg Playhouse in 1947 with a shorthand name on the marquee.

Here is a link to a photo taken on Broadway, August 20, 1947, by Ed Doyle. It shows a movie theater marquee on the right side. The name appears to be W.McBurney Playhouse. Is this the Williamsburg as it was known in 1947 or can some one tells us where this theater was located ?View link

Hello All. My nam is Alan, and I spent the first five years of my life at 202 Keap St. near the corner of Lee Av. The Joe of Joeâ€™s Luncheonette (louiebâ€™s April 6 post) was my grandfather. I spent many Saturday nights during my younger years putting together the Suday paper, which came delivered in sections. I never attended the theaters mentioned since I was part of the â€œgreat migrationâ€ of the early â€˜60â€™s. But we didnâ€™t go farâ€¦just to the Midwood section of Brooklynâ€"Nostrand and K. I invite you all to go to my blog at ahodara.blogspot.com to read my short story â€œThe Storeâ€-my fictional picture of Joeâ€™s store and life in Williamburgh in the early â€˜60â€™s.

OMG HARVEY..I cannot believe that I’m even seeing this Picture,,This is truly amazing,I wish I could step into This picture,and just walk around the street,I clearly remember The Mirrors on The Wall as you walked in here..I miss this place so much..and this picture was taken in 1973,and I was born in 75…If anyone has more pictures of this place,Please post them up especially from The Inside of The Theater..A million Thank you Harvey!!!!

Dear Tantive7
I remember when that moviehouse began to show Spanish Movies, before the Comodore did..The republic was almost gone by then. So we had downtoun Brooklyn or Greenpoint to go to see a good show..and yes I wish someone would post a pic also, it has been a long time for me also.anniegirl

Will someone please post-up a picture of the theater,It has been so long since I have seen the place,and YES,they did show Spanish Movies there.“Cantinflas Movies” “TOBI” And they showed alot of other movies there too..

I just about lived at the Williamsburg Theater in the 1940s and 1950s. I believe I paid .14 cents to get in and enjoyed two features, cartoons, a serial and 3 stooges or Our Gang comedy.
Those were the days.